Biographies Books

Trever Arnason
Wide Open: A Life in Supercross
Jeremy McGrath
HarperCollins
© 2004
Pages 320


Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a professional motocross rider, or what it feels like? This book is an autobiography about Jeremy McGrath's life. It starts off when he is young and is first racing BMX bikes. He races in the local races in California, but these become too easy. As he gets older he gets better at racing and moves on to riding motocross. As the book goes on it goes through his adult life as a motocross racer.
My favorite part of this book was when he was telling about the parties that he would have at his lake house. The house would be crammed full of people and outside would be more people. He wouldn't even know half the people because they would just show up on their boats and get off at his house. His parties sounded like a lot of fun. The theme of this book was to not give up. McGrath had many struggles, which made it hard for him to go pro. Such as people telling him that he wasn't good enough, and not being able to get sponsors. But he never gave up and he was very successful.
I think that this book was really good. It had a lot of interesting stuff about the industry. Even though it was an autobiography and I thought that it would be boring, I really liked this book.

this book is great. this book will give you some helpfull tips in between the chapters. they've got some of his worst injeries ever. this book is great i think everybodey to read this book

Jeremy McGrath has been my favorite rider for a long time, and I was pretty excited to find out that he had put out an autobiography.

I thought the narration and sequencing of the book were solid. They covered all the major events of Jeremy's life and career. It is a very simple book, seemingly targeted for a young audience.

I had issues with the placement of some of the pictures, as well as a couple of typos. For example, a picture of McGrath with the caption identifying it from 2001, while the chapter the picture is located in talks about the 1999 season. Seems like the could have made room for that picture somewhere in the chapter that talks about 2001.

One picture was identified as Jeremy after winning the 1993 championship, when it was actually a picture from the 1998 championship, which was described on that page.

I really enjoyed the writing style and the pace of the book. I read it cover to cover in about 4 hours. I didn't really find any of it boring. The way the book is written makes it feel very down to earth and easy to relate to.

The book seems to be geared towards a younger audience, which is why I found it curious that there were a few swear words included. Not alot, maybe 4-5 in the entire book, but when I read those parts, the wording seemed very unnecessary.

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I didn't find McGrath to be bitter or morally bankrupt. He worked hard for what he has achieved.

Seeing as how the book came out at the beginning of 2004, only shortly after his retirement from competition, it would have been rather difficult to include things that he has done since retiring.

One thing I know he did after retirement was to write a book... and it was a pretty good read. At least for somebody who has followed Jeremy relatively closely for his entire career...

Jermey Mcgrath grew up in southern Califorina. When he was 4 years old he started racing bicycles. He was very good and competitive. he moved up to 80 cc mini bikes when he was 8. He made his way up to the 125 cc. For a while he didn't have a factory ride, which is when you have a dirt bike company supporting you. Then, Kawasake signed him. Win he moved up to the 250 class, he went to Honda. He won 4 titles with Honda. Then, he went to Suzuki for a year and did really bad with them. He went to Yamaha and got 2 titles with them. He created a team called Team McGrath/Mazda/Yamaha when he was 30 years old.

It was a very interesting book. I could never guess what was going to happen next. I would have never guessed that he won as many titles as he did. I didn't know if he was going to get the win or not ot get the lead by the first turn. The races thatthey had in the book were exciting. Thje races were exciting because he won most of them. They were close, and i didn't know who would win untill the end of the race.

It was boring at times, like when he talked about his parents. It was also boring at the end because there was no activity. It would of been better if there would have been more ezcitment like races at the end of the book.

Over all , it was a pretty good book despite of all of the boring partsand the injuries. I learned several things that I didn't know about Jermey McGrath and about supercross and motocross. A lot of them were interesting to me.

Genre: Biograph
Three sentece sumary : The king of super cross tells the story of how he started as a privater with nothing; and endend up as a legend.
What i liked most about this book: the book told the story of a profesinall supercross racer.
What i didnt like and why:The book didnt say much about what happend after his mx carrer ended.
My fariot charecter and why: Well jeremy mcgrath of coarse.
My favriot line or scene: when MC was battiling for fist with RC.
What would i say about this book to some one else: Its a great book to see how mc followed his dream and became a legend.
One question i have after reading this book: What did he do after he retiered.
My strongest resone for rerading this book : Its about the king of super cross and how he started out with nothing and got every thing.

this book was written by carol spinney, fan of henson, who ended up working with him and doing big bird and oscar the grouch for years.

i had seen an interview with him prior to reading the book where he equates working with henson to being asked to be a member of the beatles. just awesome.

this book has many anecdotes of his times working with henson, on sesame street, the story of the girl they did "big bird goes to china" with, getting punched in costume by rappers, and he tells the story of hensons death and how it affected him.

for any henson fan, it really is a must have.

The book was easy reading, took me about 3 hours and filled with life stories/lesson's from Caroll Spinney, the man behind Big Bird & Oscar the Grouch. I laughed and cried and totally enjoyed the book.

A fun read. Carol Spinney is a man whom I never knew much about besides seeing his name in the credits of Sesame Street, and other productions where Big Bird made an appearance.

It was interesting to read about how Big Bird's character was developed, and how just playing the part of a lovable children's icon changed Carol's life.

Worth your time. For sure.

I'm still in the middle of reading this book. but, I'm admiring the work of Carroll very much and every time I look at Big Bird or Oscar now I imagine the position that Carroll is in to make the muppet come to life.

To be honest, I have not kept up on Sesame Street since I was a regular viewer from say, oh 1974-77. So I was surprised that there was but a single guy playing Big Bird! I would have otherwise presumed the role was like Vader, a guy in the suit and a guy doing the voice. Moreover, the same guy did ALL the public appearances, award shows, White House dinners. I was floored; what an interesting time this guy had stemming from the Big Bird suit. He's very matter of fact about much of this so I am perhaps overly impressed? In any case, he comes across as very genuine and extremely kind and generally a good person. He also offers odd but intriguing insights into the puppetry world. A neat short read.

Wonder Woman: The Complete History is a delightful book for fans of the character, even if you only know her from the old TV show. The background of her creation by a clinical psychologist was very enlightening.

The illustrations throughout are excellent and all in all, it's terrific book, exceptionally well written by Les Daniels.

I have always enjoyed Les Daniels and his carefully researched books of comics history, but everyone has a blind spot. Wonder Woman is obviously his. This book, beautifully designed as it is, fails to capture what has made Wonder Woman such an enduring character and icon. It's clear on almost every page, Daniels is unimpressed by her. It's fine if he doesn't like her -- no one character can be everyone's favorite -- but it does make for a frustrating read at times when one wishes to celebrate Wonder Woman's unique place in comics history. His fascination with her creator is evident to the point that it seems clear Daniels would much rather write about Marston than Diana. His heavy emphasis on the bondage subtext of the Golden Age incarnation undercuts the more postive surface elements of those stories. Indeed, he sneers at Gloria Steinem's endorsement of those early years, casting great disbelief that there could be anything of substance taken from them.

Also, as another reviewer points out, Daniels gives short shrift to George Perez's post-Crisis revamp. Widely acknowledged by fans as the high point of her modern career, it's strange to see Daniels blandly note the support Perez got from female collegues in overhauling Wonder Woman's character and deride it by calling the later issues akin to ADVENTURES OF MENOPAUSAL MOM (I'm paraphrasing but only slightly). Daniels here suffers from the same fanboy syndrome that infuses the industry these days -- the idea that if HE doesn't appreciate it, it must be terrible. Meanwhile, Mike Deodato's art is viewed favorably, despite that being universely considered a lower point in the post-Crisis stories.

At the end of the book, it really seems as if Daniels only reluctantly churned it out because of a contractual obligation. His Superman and Batman books are excellent and filled with total respect for the characters and their appeal. If only he could've retained enough objectivity for the Wonder Woman assignment. Despite it all, it is a beautiful book and the history is thorough and still fascinating if somewhat subjective. Good for historical nuts, not so good for WW fans.

Not only do you get hte nostalgic book with the history of this heroine, you get the figurine that you can display and become the envy of all your friends! The statue is of classic Wonder Woman, the one from the 50's. She's still wearing the skirt.

This is truly rare. It's fantastic for all collectors and a MUST-HAVE for all die-hard fans!

First off, loved the book. It was nice to read the comments from Lynda Carter and see the multitude of changes that WW has gone through. But I did notice two things, the actress that played Wonder Woman's mother in that tiny demo in the 60's was named Maudie Pricket and the photo of Ms. Carter's costume says it is from the first season and it's not, it's from the CBS years as are the bracelets and tiara on the following page. I know Ms. Carter preferred the CBS years updated costume but the original on worn while fighting Nazis in the more humorous years will always be my absolute favorite! Thanx...

Les Daniels' Wonder Woman: The Complete History is the third book in a 3-volume series (the first two addressed Superman and Batman). While not without its flaws, it's overall a well-researched and enjoyable treatment of the character.

Wonder Woman first appeared in 1941, the brainchild of Dr. William Moulton Marston (writing under the pen name Charles Moulton), by any standard a bit of a weirdo who's remembered today for two things: (1) he invented the polygraph, (2) Wonder Woman, of course.

I could pick a few nits with Daniels' text. In places he does reveal an ignorance on certain topics. For instance, when speaking of Marston's World War I U.S. Army service, he states Marston "rose to the rank of second lieutenant." False. No officer (and I can't imagine someone of Marston's high educational level ever being an enlisted man) "rises" to Second Lieutenant because that's the absolute lowest officer rank.

Daniels is extremely opinionated. How much space is allocated to any of Wonder Woman's creative teams over the decades is very much controlled by how much Daniels likes their work. Obviously the Marston stories, with artwork by Harry G. Peters, are his favorites thus receive the most attention, though he devotes surprising time and positive comment to the generally despised stories written by Robert Kanigher. This is fine. Half the fun of a book like this is getting the writer's likes and dislikes on the character and her creators. Where I part company with Daniels is his low opinion of the George Perez stories of the mid-1980s thru early '90s. Daniels devotes an entire chapter to Kanigher's creation of such fascinating (hah!) characters as Glop (a "shapeless mass of grinning goo from outer space [which] absorbed everything in its path including 100 rock 'n' roll records"), Wonder Tot ("Mommy be proud to see me now!"), and Egg Fu (a Chinese Communist agent inexplicably shaped like an egg the size of a house, who used his mustaches as weapons and had a Charlie Chan speech pattern). After that, it was more than a little disappointing to have the Perez stories, considered by many Wonder Woman fans including myself the character's finest hour (especially the stories on which Perez did the artwork in addition to scripting) dealt with in a mere seven text pages, much of that explaining how they weren't really all that hot.

The only truly major flaw in this book involves its layout. These days, book publishers are terrified of the Internet. And well they should be. However, instead of focusing their efforts on what books do better that the 'net - provide one, continuous, uninterrupted stream of information - publishers' response has been to make their book pages look as much as possible like web pages. Lots of bright colors, lots of sidebars. I hate sidebars. I don't appreciate having to flip back and forth between pages, sometimes reading blocks of text in four or five different locations, to get all the info. More to the point in this particular book, choice of color on some of the sidebars is extremely poor, so much so it's difficult to read the text. Black lettering against a dark blue or dark red background just doesn't make it.

With those few negatives out of the way, this book is a delight. It's all here: a biography of Marston, on to the creation of Wonder Woman, all the creative teams of note and their storylines up til this book's publication date (2000), the Cathy Lee Crosby made-for-television movie, the Lynda Carter TV show, Wonder Woman merchandise, her appearance on the cover of Ms. magazine's first issue, etc. This book is a must-have for fans of one of the 20th/21st Century's most fascinating fictional creations.

Picked up a copy of this book for our beach trip, and couldn't put it down. Alexander's comedic look at America's white / blue collar societies will make you laugh out loud, while giving pause to reflect upon your own lives. Highly recommended.

I heard about this book when the author appeared on CSPAN-BookTV. I liked the author, loved his background as ad man and ex-marine, and wanted to learn more.

The book itself reminded me of Barbara Ehrenreich's ventures into minimum wage jobs. Ehrenreich gets serious about the injustices that force some people to remain in those jobs and really work.

On the other hand, it's a nice counterpoint to Gill's How Starbuck' Saved My Life, a euphoric ode to his service as helper and barista.

The best part of the book for me came at the very beginning, with Alexander's description of his life as in advertising. His description of clients and the lack of respect for marketing expertise were very accurate.

The second best part was getting behind the scenes of a pizza delivery company, an ice cream shop and more. I didn't realize it was so hard to get jobs at the Big Box store.

Of course, we don't know how typical the author's experiences are. Why would a pizza delivery person keep delivering pizza when he spends more for gas than he earns? Was the ice cream store a franchise, like a Baskin Robbins?

The hospital example seemed a little over the top. Apparently Alexander was assigned just one type of case, courtesy of his doctor friend who got him the job. I was disturbed when the doctor put a patient through an uncomfortable and unnecessary procedure because he didn't want to embarrass the nurse, who had set up the room.

I was sorely tempted to give this book just 3 stars for one reason. On television, Alexander was asked how he came to write the book. It turns out he didn't really try out the minimum wage life. He had a book contract and he was not living on the earnings from those jobs...ever.

Not a problem, but I believe Alexander should have disclosed his intentions up front, as Ehrenreich does in her books.

Still, every career coach talks to clients who fantasize about reducing stress by taking a lower level job. Usually it doesn't work. And now we can see why.

I almost busted a gut reading about the dad in the ice cream shop. Alexander is a master at using humor to foster the empathy so many of us "fat" Americans seem to lack. Way to go Prioleau!

This was a fun book to read. His style of humor was perfect. It is an easy read - fit for a long flight, or a couple of quiet evenings.

In the last couple of years I've read many books by folks who abandoned their unsatisfying routine lives in search of fulfillment. These stalwart individuals embraced risk by leaving secure jobs to realize a long-buried passion. Some moved to a distant locale vastly different from their longtime home, others subjected themselves to some sort of extreme physical test like climbing a mountain or walking an ancient pilgrimage trail. In the end, most of them felt they made the right decision and were happier and better off as a result. However, Prioleau (pronounced Prew-Lowe) Alexander tells otherwise in this humorous and interesting look at the dark side of life renovation.

As part of the rite-of-passage that characterizes a middle-age existential crisis, Mr. Alexander decides that he has had enough of the advertising field. Despite a lucrative salary, a high-end position, and the misgivings of his wife, he quits. His next downwardly-mobile move is to embrace the simple life. Part of that strategy involves diving into the shallow end of the job pool. "You Want Fries With That?" documents his journey through the minimum-wage world of delivering pizza, jerking ice cream, doing clean-up at a home improvement project, sliding through icky bodily fluids as an ER technician, jockeying a fast-food cash register, and riding herd on a dude ranch.

Our idealistic hero figures that he'll find contentment doing an honest day of service-oriented work. But his dream gives way to disillusionment as he discovers the unromantic nature of these jobs. For example, after tallying up the costs of delivering pizza he finds that he's basically paying for the privilege of feeding his customers. Impolite and unhealthy shoppers make scooping ice cream an exercise in torment. Cleaning up patient leftovers in the ER grosses him out so bad that he finally flees in disgust. And riding a horse on a wagon trail day after day takes a harsh toll on his middle-aged body.

Despite these tribulations, the author manages to dredge humor out of each occupation. Sometimes the customers are his target, but often he pokes fun at himself, bad management, or the oddball workplace procedures he encounters. Indeed, I laughed out loud a couple of times while reading. Be advised that Mr. Alexander's a self-proclaimed "conservative-libertarian religious gun-nut wacko," so his humor has a refreshing lack of political correctness. But in the midst of the laughs, he shatters the myth that the simple life is a noble one. The hours are long, the work is mind-numbing, prestige is non-existent, and the pay sucks. In the end, he abandons ship and returns to the comforting familiarity of white-collar work - much to the relief of his longsuffering spouse and their deteriorating household financial situation. Looking back on his experience, he provides a thoughtful and non-judgmental analysis of why people wind up in these jobs for the long term.

"You Want Fries With That?" was a fun book to read. I'm the same age as the author, and that, along with a shared Marine background, helped me to identify with him. As an aside, I enjoyed how he wove his military experience into his adventures, such as using the SMEAC acronym to describe HVAC work and comparing riding horseback in boxers to getting jacked up by large Samoan dudes. As they say, once a Marine, always a Marine. Dogmatic liberals, the stridently politically-correct, and diehard fans of the book "How Starbucks Saved My Life" may not appreciate Mr. Alexander's take on things, but everyone else will appreciate his lighthearted insights. Recommended with an enthusiastic "Ooh-rah!"

I didn't think a non-fiction book about the personal and professional lives of 'everyday' people would be so well composed. Sure, I expected to read about drama and bravery and tragedy, but Sean Flynn writes with well-tuned prose and a well-honed ear for the people and the town he reveals to the reader. He has done a great service in getting to the heart and soul of the protagonists and their loved ones. He does so without exaggeration, false bravado, or romanticism. The heroic fire fighters are shown three-dimensionally, and there isn't a phony note or word in the book. And like the true heroes in history, they are far from perfect human beings. In fact, the profound issue suggested in this book is that they are willing to risk their lives because they have flaws and have felt personal pain. How else could one feel so obligated to save utter strangers at the risk of their own lives and to have such an intuitive sense of how far your body and soul can go when they're up against a formidable foe. George Orwell said that it is the job of a human being not to be a saint. If my life was at risk, and given the choice who would try and save me, I'd pick these guys over any saint, preacher, minister, or holy man.

Note to who ever wrote the Publishers Weekly review. Get a map. The second largest city in New England is Worcester Mass. not WorcHester. Those of us born and raised there pronounce the city to rhyme with mister.

All that I can say is that Sean Flynn wrote this book about a horrific true event in such a way that I feel as if I lost my friends in the blaze. I can only imagine how the true friends of these 6 men felt and continue to feel each time they see a family member of one of their perished brothers. I'm not a crying man, but I cried at some points in this story b/c they hit so close to home for one, but for two you get so wrapped up in the lives of these men that you feel the stinging pain of realizing they have died. It's a sad story, that I actually remembered hearing about after i read the book, but it's also very motivating to anybody that has thought of becoming a FF. It's almost as its a test of your heart to be a FF. Like the beginning of initiation (hazing) to become a part of a fraternity. I know two other people that read it, that upon completion(one wasn't even able to finish) withdrew from the FF applicant process in which we all signed up together. Weeds out the weak...well kinda. :o)

Either way you look at it, this is good reading. I finished in in 4 days and I was continually fussed at for 3 of those days by my 9 month pregnant girlfriend b/c I wasn't giving her the attention she wanted. Now she's reading it and i'm not getting any attention. Go fig!

Buy the book! BTW...my addiction i speak of in my title just means my addiction to FF books.

I really enjoyed this book. My dad was a firefighter and I thought the writer portrayed the firefighters with a tough realisim without taking away their compassion for what they do. The families stories seemed to convey not only the day to day fears that all firefighters families have but, a small sense of what they went through when the unimaginable happened to them. Overall a great read by a writer who seemed to care about the subject.

I read this book simply because my boyfriend said he couldn't put it down. I was mesmorized by the bravery these men went gave out to fight the fire. After every page, I kept thinking to myself, "This is TRUE." I have a stronger respect for the brave fire fighters aroundt he world. Not only is this book about the fire and the fighters themselves, but it also depicts the family's devistation after the fact. Every page brought tears to my eyes. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially family's of fire fighters. Didn't want to put it down.

I liked this book because it tells stuff alot of don't even know unless they already have this wonderful and informative book. It tells you things you are dying to know.

I finally purchased a copy of Aaron Carter, Little Prince of Pop written by his mother Jane Carter. It was an interesting read, in light of all of the recent publicity involving the Carter family. Some of the highlights of the book are the psychic connection between Aaron and his twin sister Angel and the near-death experience Aaron had when he almost drowned in the family swimming pool. God definitely seems to be watching out for Aaron. The book also talks about Aaron's relationship with his brother Nick and that they are almost like twins even though they are separated by several years. I have greatly enjoyed Aaron's music over the past few years. I am one of those 40-something fans of Radio Disney and Aaron Carter. I enjoy happy music that celebrates life. I wish Aaron well as he becomes an adult. If you look closely at the liner notes of the "Oh Aaron" CD, Aaron seems to be aware that fame is fleeting. Aaron, if by chance you read this review, you and your family are in my prayers. I look forward to a new album from you, because God has given you a special talent. I know I will enjoy any new recordings you may release. If you decide to go to college and persue Marine Biology, so be it! Follow your bliss!!! Thanks to you and your family for bringing a smile to my face!

My friend let me borrow this book to read and I loved it and had to get my own copy. I would recomend this book to anybody whether they are an Aaron Carter fan or not. I think this book is very well written and would give anyone a better idea of the person that Aaron Carter really is so they might appreciate him and his music more. If there is any one book about Aaron Carter that you should read, I definately say it should be this one.

hi every1...

my favourite singer is anastacia cuz she's cool and i love
her viose is interesting will i want to meet her if u all can
she look like a kind ,sweet ,wonderful and pretty cool
and im pretty happy she had a beautiful songs yeah

k k k
luv u all

khawlah

Ok, for all you ***Aaron Fans*** out there, I just want to say that you HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!!! It tells all about how Aaron became famous, and stories about when he was little! Theres tons of cute pictures of him with his family and friends! I totally loved the introduction, A Bird Egg In The Hand. That was so sweet! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AARON!

I read this story about Zoya, the young Afghan woman and her story of refuge in Pakistan and trips into Afghanistan. This is an OK story, although I prefer My Forbidden Face, another Afghan woman's story. Zoya's comments about the Mujalideen being as bad as the Taliban has some truth. Her resistance to these two regimes through RAWA is brave and principled. It goes to show that Afghan society is very traditional in the sense of repressing woman throughout society. The Soviet regime was probably the best in representing women in the society, but of course they were invaders and Zoya was not happy about their occupation of the country.

This is a pretty basic story detailing the crimes of the Mujalideen and the Taliban. Zoya loses both parents, probably to the Mujalideen. Then she is forced to flee and her opposition to the Taliban makes up the latter part of this book.
Hers is a difficult position. Friends in RAWA place her in a school and she becomes liberated with knowledge. She refuses to leave her countrymen and lives in a refugee camp. Her life is spent for the betterment of her countrymen, including women.

I like the other book better, but this is an OK read about the difficulties faced by Afghan women.

zoyas story is a tale of one girl whose mother was an advocate for womens rights, and she followed suit after her mothers death and after discouraging life changes. living under the taliban was a historically tragic event for all women who endured this horrific regime that ruled afghanistan without mercy or compassion for women or their rights. zoyas entire life has been uprooted and yet she has such a strong heart and mind and will not let her people suffer alone, he courage and strength is a guide to those who have equally or more suffered and lost all theyve ever had. an example to live by, a great inside look into an awful time in afghanistans history. this book will also take you into pakistan where many refugees fled, and zoya continued to be a help to many people.

If you've been unable to make sense out of the conflicting regimes and wars in Afghanistan during the past 2 decades, this intimate account of one young woman's life will help put it in a human prospective. Zoya is the nom de guerre of a 23-year old Afghan woman who fled her homeland after her parents were murdered on orders of the thuggish Mujahideen.

I found the first part of the book more interesting than the last, as Zoya describes her life as a lively little girl playing in the streets of Kabul and as the beloved only child of educated parents. She becomes gradually aware that her parents are involved in clandestine activities to undermine the increasingly repressive political regime. One day her father, and somewhat later, her mother simply disappear. As more women are victimised in the streets and in their own homes, Zoya and her grandmother decide to take refuge in Pakistan. There Zoya grows to adulthood and joins the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA).

Zoya is involved in assisting Afghan refugees and later becomes a spokeswoman and fund-raiser for the organization. There are brief accounts of secret travels to Afghanistan to photograph Taliban activities such as the cutting off of hands. I wish Zoya had been less vague about the work of her organisation and her actual role in it, but it is apparently necessary for reasons of personal security. Considering the venomous hate-mail she & RAWA received from American supporters & former friends after 9/11, it is understandable and very sad that they cannot afford to trust anyone.

I loved the book and love the courage of Zoya. Women like Zoya should become all oppressed women's role models!
This book is entertaining and the same time educating!

Having grown up with the priviledges of living in the United States one can only imagine the devestation this amazing young woman has gone through in her short, inspiring life.
At the tender age of 7, this courageous girl already started her early beginnings helping her mother work for RAWA (Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan). Living in a country that had been overtaken by the Russians in what they called "the puppet regime", one couldn't imagine that life could get worse in this destitute country, ravaged by war and poverty. "The bleeding wound" Gorbachav called it.
Zoya's graphic, heroic and saddening story told with such detail brings you to a life, I would say you "could just imagine", but I can't imagine that life. orphaned at a young age, under two controlling fundamentalist Moslem regimes, life in Afghanistan only seems to grow worse. Under the control of the Taliban, you will read of the most inhumane, torturous treatment. The taking of lives. I always knew how awful the Taliban was, but I never knew from an individual's personal experience what it was REALLY like to live there.
This incredible young woman has done so much for the woman and people of Afghanistan, helping refugees, teaching women to read and write in a country where 90% of the women are illiterate, spreading the words of freedom, where her life can be taken at any time. Zoya is a true hero and inspiration.
There is one line in the book that I will never forget, and I believe it is how Zoya truelly loves and feels for her country. It is a line from an old Afghan folklore "I am ready to die for my love, but I want my love to be ready to die for my country." This is the passion Zoya lives with on her crusade to make life better for people in Afghanistan.

I bought this book for one story but it turned out all of the stories were great.

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings always makes me cry. The other reviews of this book here describe it so eloquently and throughly that I don't feel the need to add to that aspect. The book has a strong emotional pull that made me cry and made long to go to Cross Creek and see it for myself. Rawlings is one of my all-time favorite writers, ever since my seventh-grade teacher read the newly published book The Yearling to her class, a chapter or two each day after lunch.

Wonderful view of an isolated place in FL (near Gainesville) circa 1930 written by a brave, independent woman.

Cross Creek is a series of entertaining if perhaps embellished anecdotes relating to Florida in the years preceding World War II told from the perspective of a educated emigré from the North. Some of the language, which was typical of the times, would no longer be considered politically correct and might be offensive to some. The book, however is totally delightful and gives some insight into life in rural Florida at the time. An excellent companion read is Tom Glisson's The Creek, which gives a native's view of the same time and area. Both books are a must read if you live or are interested in North Central FL.

Rawlings explores the lives and interations of the odd assortment of people living in Cross Creek, Florida in the early 1900s. It is often assigned reading for teens, but I doubt that most of them can appreciate it. Her accounts of neighbors feuding and subsistance living gives us many lessons in human behavior.
The lyrical descriptions of wildlife and the orange groves and wild landscape are very appealing. Your mouth waters as you read her essays on downhome foods like hush puppies. She turned those into a cookbook which I'll have to try out.
Modern readers squirm uncomfortably at her use of the N----- word and her characterization of blacks as irresponsible, drunken, immoral, etc. It is probably a faithful representation of common thinking at the time it was written, so recognize it as a snapshot of the times. Then move past that to luxuriate in the beautiful passages in the book. (I deducted 1 star for this)
The reader becomes absorbed in Rawlings' love of the land and the creation of a home. It gives much the same feelings as A Year in Provence or Under a Tuscan Sun.

This book touched my heart. I related to the stories and enjoyed the unique lessons that Cheróne teaches with each one. She has a fantastic way of looking at things that really makes sense, plus makes you stop and think! The way she takes ordinary everyday happenings and makes them special by just listening to God talk to her is wonderful.

Like the first story, she tells about a trip to some caves near her home when she was only three years of age. (Just think of God speaking to someone that young!) She equated the fact that though she was scared, her Dad held her hand all the way through that dark cave and helped her over the rough places. Then she tells us that this was like our Heavenly Father! When we walk in the light of His love, He will keep us in the dark and hard times of our lives and keep us from falling into the pits of life. Jesus will help us through to the light if we just keep a hold of His hand. WOW!

I recommend this book to YOU!

Don't miss her other book, "Dancing Around the Throne" either. More deep stories from a master storyteller.

Buy one for yourself, then another for a friend that you care about. They will appreciate your loving kindness, believe me!

I read this book in one setting, and LOVED it! One can say God is with Cherone because of the way she writes and everything she has gone through. Amazing!! I met Cherone at a book signing, and then some time later I saw her in a restaurant. A more humble, loving, caring person you would never want to meet. She acted like I was doing her a favor by interrupting her meal! Both of her missives, this one and her other book, "Dancing Around the Throne", are real gems. Lead you DEEP into the Spirit of God and make you want more! If someone does not `get the point' of these two marvelous volumes, all I can say is they need to check their Spirituality, for they are going on empty! A person of either gender can get a BIG blessing if they are even mediocre, let alone striving for God with all of their hearts, like they should.

One word describes both Cherone and her works: Outstanding!

Don't miss this book!

I have read this book in the paperback edition, and have the hardback, because I like to have exceptional books in both so I can read them often. This book is so outstanding and marvelous that I can not say enough about it. I could not put it down once I picked it up! The stories are wonderful and full of sage advice, Bible verses, and I LOVE the drawings! This author has her finger on the pulse of all people everywhere and you would be hard pressed to find someone who can give you better advice, help or tell it like it is better than this book does. It is the best book I have read in a long, long time. Don't miss this wonderful work. I highly recommend "At San Jose Make a Left", and also her second book, 'Dancing Around the Throne'.

This book is so awesome, I can hardly find words to tell you how wonderful it is. My wife and I have read this book, and her second book, "Dancing Around the Throne" in our devotionals with our kids because of the magnificient lessons that Cherone teaches. She tells true stories about herself or someone she knows, then gives a spiritual lesson she learned from that happening, backs up her insighs with Bible verses, and gives a wonderful drawing to put it all together. Her style is unique, and makes you really stop and think. While her story telling skills are magnificent, the fact that she is an award winning author, a 2004 Who's Who in America, and published internationally, all combine to make you realize that these books are very special, written by someone who is knowledgeable.

I met Cherone when she walked into our television station WJEB-TV 59 in Jacksonville, Florida with her sparkling blue eyes and handed me a copy of "At San Jose Make a Left". I graciously accepted it, thinking this would be JUST another book. I took it home that night, picked it up to browse through it, and when I put it down I had read it all the way through, without even stopping to realize I was at the end. For it to hold MY attention after just wanting to browse, I am sure it will hold YOUR attention. Also to make the Father known to you in a most personal way. I truly recommend this book. And again recommend this book. "At San Jose" would be a book you would want to pull from your bookshelf just to encourage yourself and lend to a friend. Marsha Yarbrough, WJEB-TV 59, Jacksonville, Florida

This book is a great read. It was very sad and tragic to read how one woman corrupted adoption which is the only means some people have of having a child of their own. It was also refreshing to see that some of the children who were illegally separated from their parents were later reunited with their families. This is a great non-fiction account of one aspect of corruption that sadly occured in our past and unfortunately still occurs.

Excellent recollection of a horrible, horrible time in our so-called Democratic Society. I appreciate the efforts of the author and all who helped her. I wish Steven Speilberg would turn this into one of his epics. His Holocaust movie set in motion positive reactions, respect and awareness. Let's hope he can bring this to fruition. But more importantly-the research presented here and the stories told should affect our Elected Officials and our Supreme Court....they should OPEN ALL THE RECORDS sealed because of the manipulation of a criminal, evil woman and her corrupt support system. As an adoptee I want to know who I am-it is my constitutional right to know. To quote Alex Haley:"In all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to know our heritage, to know who we are, and where we have come from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning; no matter what our attainments in life, there is the most disquieting loneliness." Alex Haley Thank you again Barbara-Bravo

A couple of years ago I watched a docudrama on A & E starring Mary Tyler Moore as the depraved monster Georgia Tann. When I searched for a book written about Georgia Tann and the Tennessee Children's Home Society, I found this one and read it in two days. It was riveting, thought-provoking, and heartbreaking. What a shame that her lies were not exposed years earlier when more of her victims may have had the opportunity to reunite with their loved ones. She and her cronies destroyed countless lives with their deceitful practices, and I hope that this book will create an awareness of people who prey on others so that history can never repeat itself in this way.

In the beginning of her tale of *the Baby Thief: the Untold Story of Georgia Tann, the Baby Seller Who Corrupted Adoption,* author Barbara Bisantz Raymond concludes that 'Georgia Tann had won. And Tennesseans had helped her. The facts are depressing, and shortly after beginning my research, I became depressed too."
Readers will likewise be very depressed, and then, hopefully, very angry. Angry enough to join BN (no - not that "other" Bookseller, I'm talking about B (rhymes with custard, and I'm pretty sure if I try to type it here, Amazon's censors will "gong" it) Nation (see their website) in the fight for basic civil and human rights of adult citizens who were adopted as children.
Bisantz-Raymond's book details how and why, as a cover for her schemes and scams and crimes during her 26 year (1924- 1950) reign as North American impresario of Black market babies, Georgia Tann and her powerful cohorts and co-conspirators convinced other Powers That Be that these pilfered children, and all other legally or illegally adopted children, should forevermore be barred from accessing the simple facts that most people take for granted: "Who am I?" "Where did I come from?" "What is my family's medical history?" "Am I a walking/talking genetic time bomb?"
The GT hang-over hangs on in the laws of almost every state in the United States.
This reviewer frequently reviews books in the True Crime genre. This book is sickeningly and shockingly true, and recounts horrendous crimes of continuing victimization. Take some chill pills, read it, then write your legislators! /TundraVision, Amazon Reviewer.

My wife was put up for adoption throught Georgia Tann's Children's Home. She has told me some of her experiences from being in the home in the 1940's but I just didn't believe all that I heard from her and others until I read the book. I could not read but just a few pages at a time due to the impact this book made on me. I bought my wife another book for her to read while I read this one. We both would go to bed very disturbed each night after reading the books. I would never have believed anyone could do such things to children such as Ms. Tann did and get away with it. What is amazing is all the other people in high positions in government who also got away with helping her with her twisted ideas. One of my surprises was the participation by Evangelist Pat Robertson with his misguided ideas toward adopted children. Fortunately he and his team of lawyers didn't prevail and adoption laws were changed for the good in Tennessee. It's about time that someone exposed what adopted children go through at no fault of their own. I hope this book gets great exposure all over the world because this kind of thing is still going on today in other countries. I only wish this book was written 50 years ago.